That may not necessarily be the case. According to CBSSports.com, Marrone could emerge as one of the first candidates interviewed by the Ravens for their offensive coordinator job.

Marrone, 50, opted out of his contract with the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 31, thinking he would get one of the available head coaching jobs after leading the Bills to their first winning season in a decade. But it looks like he is not going to be hired by any of the three teams he interviewed with (New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears).

He met last week with the Jacksonville Jaguars about their offensive coordinator position, even though he can afford to take the year off. The Bills have to pay his $4 million salary for this year as part of his opt-out clause.

Marrone's only time as an NFL offensive coordinator was a successful three-year run (2006-08) in New Orleans. The Saints led the NFL in total offense and passing yards per game in 2006 (391.5 total yards and 281.4 passing yards) and 2008 (410.7 total yard and 311.1 passing yards).

It was more of a struggle in his two seasons as the Bills' head coach, which could stem from the inconsistency at quarterback and the injuries at running back. Marrone let offensive coordinator Nate Hackett handle the play calling but he had the final say as Buffalo averaged 4.92 yards per play, the third-worst mark in the league. Running back Fred Jackson told ESPN Bills reporter Mike Rodak that he believes Hackett was being held back from doing more with the offense.

If the Ravens ended up hiring Marrone, it would mean the Ravens' offense would be run by a former NFL head coach in each of coach John Harbaugh's eight seasons (Cam Cameron, Jim Caldwell and Gary Kubiak were his other offensive coordinators).

The New York Jets and former Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone will meet in the coming days to discuss the team's head-coaching vacancy, it was confirmed Thursday.

Marrone

This, of course, comes as no surprise, considering the Jets expressed interest in Marrone as soon as he decided Wednesday to exercise his opt-out from the Bills, making him a free agent. Marrone spoke Thursday by phone with Jets owner Woody Johnson, according to theMMQB.com.

Truth be told, the Jets had been monitoring Marrone's situation with the Bills for days. New consultant Charley Casserly is known to be enamored with Marrone and is pushing his candidacy, according to sources.

Marrone is prepared to interview with other teams, but there's a growing sense among industry insiders that he's the Jets' top candidate -- and that he has mutual interest in the Jets. The Bronx native was the Jets' offensive line coach from 2002 to 2005.

Meanwhile, the Jets are continuing their search for Rex Ryan's replacement, as they should.

On Friday, the Jets delegation -- which includes Johnson, Casserly and consultant Ron Wolf -- will be in Seattle to interview Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Like Marrone, he's a former Jets assistant with ties to the New York/New Jersey area. He grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, a few miles from the Jets' facility. Quinn is a hot candidate, drawing interest from the Falcons and San Francisco 49ers.

While in Seattle, the Jets will also meet with Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable, a former Oakland Raiders head coach.

San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich also has agreed to interview with the Jets. That meeting likely will occur next week, but the Bills have emerged as a strong possibility for Reich, a former Buffalo quarterback.

As for the Jets' general manager search, the candidate gaining traction is Mike Maccagnan, the Houston Texans' director of college scouting. He has ties to Casserly and Marrone. There is mutual interest, and an interview will happen in the coming days.

AP Images/Paul SancyaWith a multitude of openings around the NFL, will coach Doug Marrone return to Buffalo?

Whether Marrone has any intention of using the clause, which runs through Wednesday, remains unclear.

At the Bills' season-ending news conference Monday, a question about Marrone's contract was initially blocked by a team spokesperson before Marrone decided to answer the question anyway.

"I can't answer that question," Marrone said. "I will tell you this and my background has been the same and you guys can look into. I do not discuss my contract and that's my rule. I never have and never will."

With five head-coaching vacancies around the NFL as of Monday evening, Marrone would be expected to generate interest should he decide to leave the Bills.

Here is how ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter views the situation, from his appearance Monday on Sirius XM NFL Radio with Vic Carucci and Pat Kirwan:

"Some people have suggested that he wouldn't go without having a head-coaching opportunity, to which I would say, if Doug Marrone is on the market, he doesn't have to know if there will be one: there will be one. Because when he was coming out a couple years back and interviewing along with the likes of Chip Kelly and Bill O'Brien, there were a couple of different executives that told me that they thought that Doug Marrone would be the most successful head coach of that bunch.

"If Doug Marrone were to hit the hit the marketplace tomorrow, to me, he instantly becomes maybe the top guy on the street available for another team to hire and I think he'd get action right away. Right away.

"It's a situation where he has (to) determine what he wants to do. That's going to be his call here in the next three days. We'll see what he decides. I don't think it's a dead-lock clinch, an automatic thing that he's back in Buffalo. It's not like this clause exists and it's like, 'OK, yeah, we're fine, everything's fine and dandy and we're gonna go on.' Would it floor me if he opted out? Not at all."

"I think he's well regarded and well-respected in league circles. And again, we see the openings that exist right now: We have openings in Atlanta, we openings in Chicago, we have openings with the Jets, we may have an opening with Oakland, and there may be more. So if you think that Doug Marrone wouldn't be in serious play for one of those jobs, I think that would be a mistake."

HOUSTON -- Friends are the people you can tease without consequence. That's always been my motto as least, and it seems to be one shared by Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien and Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone.

"He's a liar, I never liked that guy," Marrone said.

O'Brien

"You want me to respond to that?" O'Brien said. "Now you know why he doesn’t have many friends. You’re starting to figure that out."

They've known each other since 1995, when O'Brien joined Georgia Tech's staff as a graduate assistant. Marrone was the team's director of football operations. O'Brien's wife introduced Marrone to his wife before either of them knew O'Brien. Marrone later returned the favor, introducing O'Brien and his wife Colleen.

The two young coaches spent hours together, seeing each other more than they saw their wives.

"Hours were not, you didn’t even question the hours," O'Brien said. "You were in at five in the morning and stayed there until the work got done. Doug was the line coach and I was the running backs coach, so we did a lot of work together. ... That taught us a lot about coaching."

Marrone

"I don't think either of us could have gone through that alone," Marrone said.

They grew together, becoming position coaches at Georgia Tech before heading in separate directions to pursue their dreams. When Marrone became the New York Jets' offensive line coach in 2002, O'Brien was Georgia Tech's offensive coordinator. When O'Brien made a surprising move to become an offensive assistant with the Patriots in 2007, Marrone was the New Orleans' Saints offensive coordinator, the job that led the way to his first head coaching job.

They overlapped as college head coaches for one season. Marrone was Syracuse's head coach from 2009 to 2012, while O'Brien led Penn State in 2012 and 2013.

O'Brien called Marrone "blunt" this week. It's a word many use to describe O'Brien, too, part of why they clicked.

"In all seriousness, that’s why he’s a good friend," O'Brien said. "He is a good friend, but you have to know him. You have to know him really well to be his friend because he’s very direct and he tells you the truth. I think that’s why the both of us are friends."

Still, the jabs are fun.

"I was a scholarship player at Syracuse," Marrone said. "Bill went to Brown. He's from Massachusetts and went to some hoity toity prep school. I went to high school in the Bronx."

Countered O'Brien: "He’s a Yankees fan and I’m a Red Sox fan. I’ll put it to you that way."

Suddenly, he remembered where he was.

"Although I do like the Astros," O'Brien said. "I don’t want to get in trouble."

But, surprisingly, the one team Tannehill has struggled most against throughout his NFL career is the Buffalo Bills. Tannehill is 1-3 against Buffalo, completing just 48 percent of his passes in those four games and averaging only 136.7 yards per contest.

Tannehill’s most recent outing against Buffalo was arguably his worst game. He was 10-of-27 passing for 82 yards in a 19-0 loss to the Bills in Week 16.

Tannehill will get to meet his personal nemesis when the Dolphins (1-0) travel to face the Bills (1-0) on Sunday. Tannehill knows he wasn’t his best in Week 1 against the Patriots but still put together a winning performance. He completed 18-of-32 passes for 178 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

“We left a lot of plays out there. I left a lot of plays out there, personally,” Tannehill admitted. “Location of throws, missing throws, [I] had a couple of dropped passes. Details like that where we left a lot of yards and a lot of touchdowns out on the field. ... But you can’t leave that many plays on the field consistently and expect to win week-in and week-out. Definitely, we want to clean those details up this week.”

Tannehill Struggles vs. Buffalo

Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill is just 1-3 against the Buffalo Bills.

Date

Comp-Att.

Yards

TDs

INTs

Result

11/15/12

14-28

141

1

2

L, 14-19

12/23/12

13-25

130

2

0

W, 24-10

10/20/13

19-37

194

3

2

L, 23-21

12/22/13

10-27

82

0

0

L, 19-0

Tannehill will have to play better this week. Buffalo has found a way to batter Tannehill and force Miami's offense to be one-dimensional in the past. That was especially the case during last season's season sweep when the Bills' defense registered nine quarterback sacks on Tannehill in two games.

Those two contests helped convince Miami to do a major makeover of its offensive line via free agency and the draft. The Dolphins signed veteran left tackle Branden Albert to a $47 million contract, drafted rookie right tackle Ja’Wuan James in the first round and added center Samson Satele and veteran guards Daryn Colledge and Shelley Smith in free agency.

Miami had five new starting offensive linemen in Week 1, and the unit thrived against New England. The Dolphins had impressive balance with 191 rushing yards and 169 passing yards, which caught the attention of Bills head coach Doug Marrone.

“As far as just a unit, in general, they’re working extremely well together and I think that’s the most impressive thing,” Marrone said in a conference call with the Miami media. “They’re knocking people off the ball.”

Both teams enter this game with momentum. That sets up this interesting matchup of surprise undefeated teams where the winner will be 2-0 and in first place in the AFC East.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, 63 percent of teams that start 2-0 since 1990 have gone on to make the playoffs. Whoever wins Sunday will be well-positioned to end a lengthy postseason drought. The Dolphins haven’t made the playoffs since 2008, and the Bills have the NFL’s longest playoff drought dating back to the 1999 season.

“Very important just because we need to get this lead. We don’t need to be playing catch up,” Dolphins receiver Mike Wallace said. “We’ve been there before. We need to see how it feels to play as the division leaders the whole time. We can do that. We have the team to do it. We just have to continue to put in the work every single week, every single day."

NFL Nation's 4 Downs

Rex Ryan landed a contract extension this offseason, but don't let that fool you. He will have reason to be nervous if the New York Jets miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. The Buffalo Bills' 6-10 record last season wasn't ominous for Doug Marrone -- that was just his first year on the job. But with an ownership change on the horizon, a failure to improve in 2014 might not bode well for Marrone.

Then there is Joe Philbin of the Miami Dolphins. He survived a bullying scandal that took place in his locker room and on his practice field. A late-season collapse that cost Miami a playoff berth couldn't sink Philbin, not when you consider the adversity the team fought through just to be in contention. But now Philbin enters his third year, when a lot is expected of a regime. He is likely out of second chances.

The four writers who cover the division -- Rich Cimini in New York, Mike Reiss in New England, Mike Rodak in Buffalo and James Walker in Miami -- offered their insights on the AFC East hot seat and other key topics. They also polled their Twitter followers to find out if they saw the issues differently.

Which AFC East coach enters camp on the hottest seat?

Rich Cimini: Doug Marrone's seat is lukewarm and Rex Ryan's is warm. Joe Philbin? Let's just say his tush is feeling extreme heat. Frankly, I'm a bit surprised he survived last season's debacle. Not only did the Dolphins collapse down the stretch to blow a playoff spot, but they became a national punchline because of the bullying scandal. The mess cost general manager Jeff Ireland his job, but Philbin emerged as the Teflon Man. He has now run out of mulligans. Philbin is working for a new GM, Dennis Hickey, and it's hard to imagine him returning in 2015 if the Dolphins miss the playoffs again. Philbin is an offensive-minded coach, but his offense -- quarterback Ryan Tannehill, in particular -- has shown no improvement. ... We would mention Bill Belichick's seat, except it's really not a seat. In this division, it's a throne.

Mike Reiss: Is it possible for someone to go from a Coach of the Year candidate last December to the hot seat in late July? It shouldn't be, but that is the situation in which Dolphins coach Joe Philbin finds himself. I thought Philbin deserved a lot of credit for keeping things together last season, and after the Dolphins beat the Patriots in mid-December many were singing his praises. But the team sputtered the final two weeks of the season and now Philbin, entering his third season, could be viewed as having the hottest seat among AFC East coaches. Crazy business, this NFL.

Mike Rodak: This is a close race between Rex Ryan, Doug Marrone and Joe Philbin. Ryan faces the tough scrutiny of the New York market, and if the Jets' combo of quarterbacks Geno Smith and Michael Vick doesn't pan out, Ryan could be gone, despite his contract extension this year. In Buffalo, a pending ownership change naturally puts Marrone's future in doubt. I don't think CEO Russ Brandon or general manager Doug Whaley would fire Marrone even if things don't go well this season, but their voices might not matter if a new owner wants sweeping changes. In Miami, new GM Hickey has given Philbin his vote of approval, but how long will that last? If I had to pick one situation where the head coach's job is most in question, it's Philbin with the Dolphins.

James Walker: Miami's Joe Philbin has the hottest seat in the AFC East. After going a combined 15-17 his first two seasons, this year is really playoffs or bust for Philbin. He was fortunate to survive last year's late-season collapse and major locker-room issues with the bullying scandal that embarrassed the franchise. General manager Jeff Ireland and offensive coordinator Mike Sherman and others lost their jobs, but Miami owner Stephen Ross offered Philbin one more opportunity to prove he's the right coach for the team. The key for Philbin will be winning within the division. He is 4-8 against AFC East teams, and that won't cut it this season.

@RichCimini#jetsfourdowns Marrone. If the Bills regress, he'll be on the hot seat because they DO have a lot of talent, esp on defense.

Which of your team's positional battles intrigues you the most?

Cimini: No question, it's the quarterback situation even though Geno Smith versus Michael Vick isn't a true open competition. No matter, it's still a compelling story, one that will create many headlines in training camp. It's Smith's job to lose, but I'm curious to gauge his development now that he has had a full season and a full offseason to immerse himself in the offense. More than anything, he should be better at seeing the field and reading defenses. How will he handle the pressure of knowing there is a capable replacement if he falters? Let's be honest, he never had to deal with that as a rookie. If Smith is outplayed by Vick, it will put the coaches in a delicate position. Clearly, they want Smith to be the starter, but they also have to consider the possible message it sends. If the best guy isn't playing, it's bad form. One position, so many fascinating subplots.

Reiss: Receiver looks like the Patriots' most compelling position battle. They are counting on big-time improvement from second-year players Aaron Dobson (second round), Josh Boyce (fourth round) and Kenbrell Thompkins (undrafted), while big 2013 free-agent signing Danny Amendola will be looking to prove he can stay healthy and recapture the magic we saw in the 2013 season opener. Veterans Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell are also expected to play significant roles, and can slippery-quick seventh-round pick Jeremy Gallon be a sleeper? Lots of questions to answer.

Rodak: The starting spot that seems most up for grabs in Buffalo this offseason is at safety. Who will start opposite Aaron Williams? The Bills lost Jairus Byrd and didn't address the loss in free agency or the draft, instead putting their faith in two of their draft selections from last season -- Duke Williams (fourth round) and Jonathan Meeks (fifth round) -- as well as a more experienced veteran, Da'Norris Searcy. With Aaron Williams recovering from shoulder surgery for most of organized team activities, we didn't get a great feel for which player had the best shot to win Byrd's old job. In the few times that Williams was on the field, it was Searcy lining up with the first team, but Duke Williams and Meeks also got reps with the first unit throughout OTAs. It's a battle that will continue into training camp.

Walker: The Dolphins have a few good position battles, but I am most intrigued by the competition to be the slot receiver because of the immense depth at the position. The Dolphins have Brandon Gibson, Rishard Matthews and rookie second-round pick Jarvis Landry all competing for one spot. In addition, these receivers have different styles. Gibson is more detailed and cerebral. He gets open with his route-running. Matthews is the biggest and most physical receiver of the bunch. Landry is sort of a combination of the two, but he lacks blazing speed. I think all three are capable of handling the position. It's just a matter of who performs the best and which style the coaching staff prefers.

@mikerodak running backs look to be more interesting than I expected, and even though there isn't competition QB growth is #1

Which veteran on your team is poised for a breakout season?

Cimini: For several reasons, it should be Quinton Coples. After two nondescript seasons, it's time to turn potential into production -- and he knows it. The talent is there. With Coples, whose work ethic was questioned when he came out of North Carolina, it is a matter of want-to. Does he want to be great? The former first-round pick was slowed last season by a position change ("rush" linebacker) and a fractured ankle in the preseason, which cost him three games. Now he should be comfortable at the position and he dropped weight in the offseason, which should help his quickness on the edge as a pass-rusher. Coples has the ability to turn a middling pass rush into a very good one.

Reiss: With the Patriots bolstering their secondary with Darrelle Revis, a player like third-year defensive end Chandler Jones could be a primary beneficiary of better coverage. He had six sacks as a rookie and followed that up with 11.5 last season. Could he hit 15 this season? As long as he stays healthy, it wouldn't surprise me.

Rodak: There was no shortage of breakout performers for the Bills last season, especially on defense. Defensive end Jerry Hughes, cornerback Leodis McKelvin, safety Aaron Williams and defensive tackle Marcell Dareus all enjoyed the best seasons. This season, I see two strong candidates for breakout performances: wide receiver Robert Woods and cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Woods had a strong start to last season -- he was a candidate for NFL rookie of the month in September -- but a revolving door at quarterback and a late-season ankle injury hampered his progress. If quarterback EJ Manuel bounces back from his up-and-down rookie season, Woods could stand to benefit. I would give him the edge to break out over Gilmore, a former first-round pick who was limited by a wrist injury most of last season but is among the better cornerbacks in the division when healthy.

Walker: Last season the Dolphins saw significant returns from a second-year defensive end, Olivier Vernon. He led the Dolphins with 11.5 sacks and really came on strong in 2013. So I'm going to stick with the same position and the same experience level and go with current second-year defensive end Dion Jordan. The Dolphins got little return for their No. 3 overall pick last year -- he had just 26 tackles and two sacks. But I like what I saw from Jordan during organized team activities and minicamp. Jordan hit the weight room hard this offseason and bulked up about 17 pounds. He's much stronger, which is key because Miami's coaching staff was concerned about Jordan's ability to stuff the run. Jordan should put up better numbers and be an all-around better player. His biggest issue is getting playing time behind Vernon and Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake.

@JamesWalkerNFL Dion Jordan. Can't hold him back anymore. He will get 10 sacks and will be on the field 40 plays per game

Cimini: No doubt, Jets fans will celebrate the day Brady decides to call it quits. Statistically, he's in a two-year decline, but he played with such a patchwork receiving corps last season that it's hard to say he is going south. Brady, who turns 37 in August, should have at least two more Brady-like seasons. I'm basing that on recent history. After all, John Elway won his second Super Bowl at 38 -- and promptly retired. It's rare in the modern era for a quarterback to play well beyond 38. Brett Favre had a great year at 40, and Warren Moon enjoyed a good year at 38, but the examples are few and far between. The Patriots drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round for a reason. Brady is signed through 2017, but I'd be mildly surprised if he's still around at the age of 40.

Reiss: I'm not going to be the one who bets against Tom Brady. I still see him playing at a high level through the completion of his current contract in 2017, and based on the way he takes care of his body, the dedication to his craft, and the desire to play as long as possible, I could see him going the Warren Moon route and playing into his 40s. It's all contingent on good health, but will Tom Brady still be slinging passes and winning games in the year 2020? Yup.

Rodak: I would peg Brady's window at 3-4 years. In the past, he has spoken about his fear of the "abyss" that will follow his playing career. Yet we've also seen him in the public eye as a father in recent years and I think he would embrace that role in retirement. The bigger question is whether Bill Belichick would ever "move on" from Brady or simply allow him to play -- and start -- as long as he'd like. Belichick is markedly unemotional when he makes personnel decisions, so I don't think he would necessarily let Brady dictate when his career ends. Even if Belichick's final season coincides with Brady's, I think Belichick would want to leave the organization in a good spot. That could mean handing over the reins to a younger starter if the situation calls for it.

Walker: I covered Brady for two seasons as ESPN.com's AFC East reporter. To me, he has always come off as a player who wished he could play football forever. You would be surprised how many NFL players are not that way. Brady isn't motivated by money or fame. I think there is a genuine love for the game and thirst for competition that will be hard for Brady to let go. That is why I expect Brady to hold on for as long as he can. I expect two or three more quality seasons, but I wouldn't be surprised if Brady tries to go longer. I think Brady is too competitive to walk away on his own. Father Time might have to pull him away from the NFL.

@MikeReiss Two. (hoping he goes out with a ring (a la John Elway)- Because i think he has less than 3 - I'm watching the back up QB battle.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buckle your seat belts: the Buffalo Bills' next major contract negotiation is right around the corner.

Running back C.J. Spiller is able to become a free agent after this season. Speaking to reporters following his first offseason workout Tuesday, Spiller dropped a line that could send shivers down Bills fans' spines.

"It's my first rodeo. I'll take advice from guys that have been there before. I'll reach out to Jairus [Byrd] and see how he handled it," Spiller said. "I haven't talked to him. I've seen him this offseason but I will [reach out] eventually."

Byrd, of course, was in negotiations with the Bills for over a year until he signed a lucrative, five-year deal with the New Orleans Saints last month, so he's probably not the first person that Bills fans would want talking to Spiller.

Byrd was franchised last offseason and chose not to sign his tender, sitting out the offseason program and most of training camp. Spiller, on the other hand, was with his teammates Tuesday.

"The biggest thing is, I'm here. Last year, Byrd and his situation was different and he didn't show up," Spiller said. "And it worked out in his favor. But I'm here, ready to work."

Spiller was asked if he was taking part in the voluntary workouts as a sign of "good faith" in the upcoming negotiations.

"No, this is a lot of different things. I'm not the type of guy that -- I love being around my teammates. I love working out. So, is that going to boost anything? Who knows," Spiller said. "I can only control what I do. I can't worry about anything else. I understand that this is a business. Decisions have to be made. You have to respect that. But being here has nothing to do with that stuff."

As for any negotiations, Spiller is in the process of hiring an agent. Gary Wichard, who negotiated Spiller's rookie contract in 2010, died in 2011.

"Hopefully I'll get one pretty soon. I'll need one pretty soon. So I kind of got some guys in mind, that I'm looking at. I've had a chance to meet with a couple, so that process has been going pretty well so far," he said. "I just haven't really had enough time to really get into trying to really sit down and see who the best agent would be best for me, with different characteristics that I'm looking for.

"Because my previous guy, I had a unique bond with him and that's kind of what I'm looking for. So it will take a while to try to get a feel for guys, but through a lot of talks and a lot of prayer, I know I'm going to select the right person. So it's nothing to do with trying to delay any negotiations, because I haven't had any time. I've been spending time with my daughter and my family."

Spiller didn't say when he would like to begin negotiations with the Bills' brass.

"I haven't really given it any thought. I'm sure once that time comes, both parties will try to sit down and try to get something down and start negotiating. Right now, I'm pretty sure these guys are getting ready for the draft. I'm getting ready for the season," he said. "I haven't really given it any thought, about this possibly being my last year."

Playing into the contract talks will be the diminished market for free-agent running backs. As explored in a recent piece by ESPN's John Clayton, running backs are having trouble getting paid after reaching free agency.

Spiller still sees the position as valuable.

"If you look at this free agency, running backs really didn't make a big splash in the market. I don't know if teams just decided to make this a passing league, which it already is," Spiller said. "To me, you're always going to need a running back. A quarterback's best friend is the running game. Fortunately for us, that's what we're going to have here in Buffalo. We've had a great running game since I've been here.

"But some reason, some people started looking at that stat sheet, started looking at the age and different stuff, instead of looking at production and what guys done. Take Adrian Peterson, for instance. Look at his production. Look at Chris Johnson, who went for 1,000 yards for six straight seasons. So to me, you got to have a running back. You got to have more than one because of the season."

ESPN NFL Nation writer Kevin Seifert recently examined running backs' performance as they age and found a "cliff" after age 27. Spiller, who turns 27 in August, brushed aside any fears of a possible decline.

"I don't think nothing about it. It's just somebody that came up with a stat. Good on their part," he said. "I don't think my play is going to decline. If you really go look at my body of work, I don't really have a ton of carries. I probably have maybe 600. And this is going into my fifth year. You look at other guys who have almost 2,000 carries, it's a huge difference.

"I don't think about it. I don't pay attention to it. I'll be 27 this year and if people say that's my peak, then that's them. But to me, I'm just going out there and just balling."

Spiller defended his play last season, when he was limited by an ankle injury but rushed for 933 yards.

"I was very pleased. Considering that I was playing on one wheel, really. Almost went for another 1,000-yard season," he said. "That was one of my big goals, trying to get back to that 1,000-yard season. Just came up short. To be able to do it on one wheel, that was pretty impressive."

However, Spiller's production and playing time dipped from the season prior. He and coach Doug Marrone seemed to be on different wavelengths at points last season, with Spiller eventually sitting out one game in October to rest his injured ankle.

"I won't forget what everybody was writing in the papers," Spiller said Tuesday. "What really stung? Everything. 'Should I [have] sat down? Was the 2012 year just a one-year thing?' But it is what it is. You guys get paid to do what you do, and I get paid to do what I do. Like I said, I'm gonna be ready to go this year and hopefully I can get back to that 2012 form."

Despite the potential to test the free-agent market next spring, Spiller said he would welcome a long-term deal with the Bills.

"I would. There's not too many guys that can say that they've played [their whole] career at one spot," he said. "But at the same time, you've got to be a realist with yourself and understand that this is a business, as well. But my goal -- I would love to stay here and finish my career -- but who knows how it'll play out."

ORLANDO, Fla. -- With Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Williams in the news after being stabbed, people around the NFL are keeping an eye on the situation.

One person with a special interest is Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone, who coached Williams at Syracuse. Williams' college career didn't end well. He was suspended for academic impropriety and later quit the football team.

"I've always had a lot of respect for Mike," Marrone said during the AFC coaches breakfast Tuesday morning. "I thought Mike was a heck of a football player. We had a lot of conversations. There were a lot of good things that were going on. I got a lot of calls before the draft and I told those guys that Mike would do well. We've been disconnected obviously from when he left to his time in Tampa. But I liked Mike. I really did. I wish him well. Yesterday, I talked to [Tampa Bay general manager] Jason [Licht] just to see if he was OK. Obviously, I care about Mike."

Williams was stabbed in the thigh. He was treated at a local hospital and released. The Buccaneers have said they're still gathering information about the incident.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has a history of working with offensive linemen. That’s why Marrone sounded excited about working with free-agent pickup Chris Williams.

A first-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2008, Williams has never lived up to expectations while bouncing between guard and tackle. He started 16 games at guard for St. Louis last season, but the Rams weren’t eager to re-sign him. But Marrone sees Williams as a reclamation project.

“I’ve been part of this before,’’ Marrone said during the AFC coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meeting Tuesday morning. “I was fortunate that I had a player, Jeff Faine, out of Cleveland that wasn’t playing that we were able to attain in New Orleans and he came in and performed at a Pro Bowl level and became the highest paid center in the league.

“My goal, my challenge, is to have the same type of thing happen with Chris. I’m excited about working with him. I know there are a lot of people that have a lot of question marks about him. I really don’t. I don’t at all. I’m fired up to work with him and he’s fired up.’’

Marrone believes Williams can be an impact player at left guard. That’s why the Bills gave him a four-year contract worth $13.5 million. Marrone said he thought Williams had enormous potential when he was coming out of college.

“I really liked Chris coming out,’’ Marrone said. “I really thought he had the skill that someone like myself was looking for in an offensive lineman. I know that things have not worked out as well for him or things have not gone the way he wanted them to go for himself or probably the team that picked him. It’s been tough. There have been struggles for him. People have gotten on him.’’

But, now, maybe it’s time for Williams to finally reach his potential.

In other news, Marrone said it’s possible the Bills will practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the preseason. Marrone also said cornerback Corey Graham, who the Bills signed in free agency, might be moved to safety.

Rodak: Nick, how did the Rams' line as a whole perform last season? Did Williams make it better or worse?

Wagoner: As expected, the Rams had their share of injury issues on a line full of veterans. They were mostly solid, especially after the team refocused on the run game. But they also had their share of struggles, especially when they faced the dominant front sevens in the NFC West. Williams was the weakest link of the group, though he provided more durability than any of his linemates. He held up OK, but those division foes especially had a knack for getting the better of him.

Jeff, you saw Williams early in his career and when the Bears first tried to make him a guard. Did you ever envision he'd land a contract like the one he got from Buffalo?

Dickerson: Not a chance. The Bears touted Williams as their franchise left tackle of the future when the team selected him in the first round (No. 14 overall) of the 2008 NFL draft, but he hardly lived up to expectations and is considered one of the Bears' biggest draft busts, along with Gabe Carimi, in the last seven or eight years. His chronic injuries and uneven play ultimately led to his release. To be fair, Williams turned out to be much better suited to play inside at guard, however, he was never viewed as one of the elite guards in the NFL, except by the Bills, apparently.

Rodak: Jeff, Doug Marrone is a former offensive line coach and has valued size among offensive linemen early in his tenure with the Bills. Williams (6-foot-6, 326 pounds) is a load, but how effectively did he use his size with the Bears?

Dickerson: Again, I don't want to make it sound as if Williams was a terrible guard, but he never had the reputation of being an ultra-athletic or ultra-aggressive offensive lineman. Maybe that changed when Williams went to St. Louis. Obviously, he has the requisite size to play inside. Marrone is a terrific coach. Hopefully it's a good pairing. But his size was never viewed as a negative or a positive when Williams played in Chicago.

Rodak: Nick, what was your sense on how the Rams valued Williams? Do you think they wanted to bring him back as a starter?

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Wagoner: They had interest in bringing him back, though I think it's likely if he'd come back he would have either been a backup or, more likely, in a competition for the starting job like he was in 2013. To me, it made sense if they could get him back to serve as a swing man simply because he could play anywhere on the line except center. Having a player like that at a cheap price is pretty much ideal for a backup. But I don't think they were going to extend themselves too far to bring him back. Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau has a great reputation for taking reclamation projects and getting something out of them. Although this is another starter subtracted from the line, I believe the Rams feel they can upgrade the starter at this spot and develop someone else to fill a backup swing role he could have had.

Jeff, something that applies to the Rams and Bills, but you saw up close. The Rams look like they're going to have to do some quick work to improve the line this offseason and they may have to use the draft to do so. It seems the Bears were able to do that last year, what did you see in how they were able to turn it around so quickly?

Dickerson: General manager Phil Emery double-dipped in free agency and the draft. He spent big bucks to land left tackle Jermon Bush and reunite him with his old New Orleans Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, and followed that up by signing guard Matt Slauson. Both turned out to be major upgrades over what the Bears had in 2012. Then Emery drafted right guard Kyle Long in the first round and right tackle Jordan Mills in the fifth round to complement veteran center Roberto Garza. It was a stroke of pure genius.

Wagoner: The Rams might need some of that genius in the next couple of months here though when they lean on Boudreau to be their offensive line whisperer of sorts.

Mike, obviously this is a move that has Jeff and I scratching our heads, and I know you feel that way, too. What was the need for Buffalo on the offensive line, how do you see Williams fitting in and what do the Bills hope to get from him?

Rodak: Nick, the Bills have told Williams that they want him to be their left guard. That was a problem area for the Bills last season, as they never found someone reliable to step in for Andy Levitre. The Bills are big on Williams' size and if it works out, then he'll be an upgrade over Doug Legursky, who should ideally be their backup center. With the contract the Bills gave Williams, he should be starting at left guard on Day 1. If he's not, that's a problem. They're not paying him to be a backup, although with his versatility, he could help as a swing player at several positions. It's a signing that addresses an area of need but also comes with an element of financial risk.

Not a shocker: The Hall of Fame game, held annually in Canton, Ohio, the day after induction ceremonies, is typically played between an AFC and NFC team who have former players being inducted. Of the five modern-era enshrinees -- Andre Reed, Michael Strahan, Aeneas Williams, Walter Jones, and Derrick Brooks -- Reed was the only player who spent most of his career with an AFC team.

Earlier start in July: The Bills were one of the last teams to start training camp last season, as they began their preseason on a Sunday instead of a typical Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night game. That won't be the case this year. The Hall of Fame game is held a week ahead of the first full preseason weekend, meaning the Bills might also start training camp a week early. It's not a requirement that they do, but expect coach Doug Marrone to take advantage of the extra time to get his team prepared. That means a shorter July vacation for players and the coaching staff.

Longer haul in camp: With training camp starting early and five preseason games on the slate, this will be a longer summer than usual for players. The Bills were hit with a rash of injuries last preseason, with several key players -- EJ Manuel (knee), Kevin Kolb (concussion), Stevie Johnson (hamstring), and Stephon Gilmore (wrist) -- sidelined. For Manuel in particular, the longer camp could be beneficial from a development standpoint, but it also presents more risk for injury, especially with Manuel's knees already under the microscope. It wouldn't be surprising if Marrone works more rest days and walk-throughs into the camp schedule to keep players fresh.

Ideal road trip: From a fan standpoint, the combination of Reed's induction (on Aug. 2) and the Bills-Giants game (on Aug. 3) make for an ideal summer road trip. With Buffalo-to-Canton less than a four-hour drive, expect plenty of Bills fans in the stands. The Bills last played in Canton in 2009, falling to the Tennessee Titans, 21-18.

I began a question during his podium session today at the combine by noting that he was probably Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien's best friend in the league.

"Did he say probably or you said probably?" the Bills head coach said with a smile. That was my word, not O'Brien's. "I just wanted to make sure. When I see him I'm going to ask him."

Marrone

The pair coached together at Georgia Tech in the mid-1990s. O'Brien met his wife, Colleen, through Marrone and his wife right around then.

"It's a funny profession," Marrone said. "You start off, and I started off in Division III after I'd gotten done playing. You grow up with a lot of people. usually it's regional. we were all obviously in the northeast together. ... You see everyone grow and see everyone grow in the profession. It's a gratifying experience to know people in your profession have integrity, have character, that work extremely hard and are able to be successful."

Marrone didn't say much about what O'Brien was like when they were young coaches together, but I asked him off the podium if the intensity everybody talks about with O'Brien has always been part of his character.

"Bill wears his heart on his sleeve," Marrone said. "I'd say it's intense, but it's intense in a positive way, not a negative way. ... If he couldn't turn it off, that would be a negative way. ... He's done it throughout his whole career, not only as a head coach, but even when I saw him as a position coach."

Marrone recently went through the same transition O'Brien is about to. I felt similarities in their feelings about making the move. Marrone actually felt the transition from college to the NFL was easier than the transition from working in the pros to working in college.

"I was much more comfortable with the schedule, calendar, the way it was in the NFL than it was in college," Marrone said. "The schedule is different. It's very difficult to spend as much time as you'd like to coaching."

An upward trend for the Bills would fit Marrone with the new trend of college coaches who become NFL head coaches. If you asked a few years ago, conventional wisdom indicated former college head coaches struggled with a move to the NFL. That is not really the case anymore as coaches like Pete Carroll, Jim Harbaugh and Chip Kelly have shown.

On Friday, we passed along news that the Bills promoted defensive quality control coach Jason Rebrovich to assistant defensive line coach.

When the Bills hired Doug Marrone as head coach a year ago, Rebrovich was one of six coaches that Marrone brought with him from his staff at Syracuse. That total increased to seven last Thursday, when Marrone added wide receivers coach Rob Moore to his Bills staff.

For some perspective, we took a look at the hiring patterns of Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly, who made the jump from Oregon last season, as well as former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano, who left Rutgers for the NFL two years ago.

In all cases -- with Kelly, Schiano and Marrone -- the college team replaced its departed head coach with one of his top assistants: Syracuse hired defensive coordinator Scott Shafer, Oregon hired offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich and Rutgers hired assistant head coach/offensive line Kyle Flood. Had that not happened, and those schools looked externally, then there may have been more defections of those former assistants to the NFL.

What is the benefit to keeping parts of a college staff intact as a coach makes the transition to the NFL? Besides giving a chance for loyal assistants to advance their careers, it provides continuity that can make a head coach's message easier to impress on players. Kelly stressed the importance of that when he hired his five former assistants in Philadelphia.

"That was really important to me to get a bunch of guys in here that understood me and really kind of built it from the bottom up," he said. "And Eric and Todd [Lyght], Matt Harper and Greg Austin are guys that are young coaches at Oregon that have been with me a couple of years and understood how I wanted things done and what my vision was."

However, unlike Marrone -- who bought along Hackett for the same position in Buffalo -- Kelly decided to have both his coordinators be coaches with NFL experience.

"I knew I was going to hire coordinators that were NFL guys that haven't had the opportunity to work with me before. I have a tendency to talk really fast and I want things to be efficient," Kelly said. "But I also know that I may forget to say something, and Pat Shurmur can go to Greg Austin and say, ‘What did he mean by that?’ Or the same thing with Dave Fipp and Matt Harper for those young guys. Now I can put together guys with NFL experience coming here, and those guys can say, ‘This is what coach means, this is how we operate.'"

As such, the decision to hire Hackett as offensive coordinator last season is where it may be easiest to quibble with Marrone. The move highlights the downside of a former college coach hiring his former assistants, particularly the risk involved in a college coach making a lateral move to the NFL. While Hackett may have been successful at the coordinator level in college, the NFL poses a whole new set of challenges.

Marrone may be well-intentioned in trying to develop Hackett as an NFL coordinator, but it is fair to question whether Hackett was the best option for the Bills to win. This offseason, Marrone has added two "external" coaches to his offensive staff: quarterbacks coach Todd Downing and senior offensive assistant Jim Hostler, seemingly acknowledging the need to give Hackett some help directing the offense.

There's also the need to have outside voices in the room, typically in the form of veteran coaches who have experience outside the shadow of that head coach. Marrone, at least in part, addressed that need in hiring his defensive coordinator each of the past two seasons. Mike Pettine and Jim Schwartz were external candidates but also the best options on the market at the time.

Pettine's hire paid immediate dividends for the Bills, as he brought dramatic improvement to the defense. Schwartz will now lead that unit and the expectation is clear: The defense needs to continue to perform at a high level.

Offensively, the Bills remain a work in progress. Acknowledging the challenges of developing a young quarterback in EJ Manuel, the Bills still need to make strides on that side of the ball next season. If that does not happen, legitimate questions will be raised about Marrone's decision to bring his offensive system -- and several of his assistants -- from Syracuse to the NFL.

With a 6-10 record, the Buffalo Bills didn't have much fodder for trash talk this season.

But before the season started? Well, that's different. Prior to the Bills' regular season opener, often-outspoken receiver Stevie Johnson said the New England Patriots did not have "anybody that could stop me."

Johnson

Johnson was held to three catches for 39 yards in the game and dropped a critical third-and-1 pass that may have changed the result of the contest, a 23-21 Bills loss. It was the beginning of a long, disappointing season for Johnson, but head coach Doug Marrone seemed to have little problem with Johnson's pregame proclamation.

"People have to be who they are," Marrone said on Sept. 9. "You guys are going to ask tough questions, and you want them to answer it. You want people to be who they are and what they do. As long as it's not a standpoint of giving away any strategic information. ...I think that's where I would have a problem with it."

In the case of the Bills, Marrone's answer back in Week 1 makes his opinion clear. On a scale of red (not allowed), yellow (within reason) and green (go for it), Marrone's stance on trash talking is: Green.

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Buffalo Bills released the following statement Thursday from head coach Doug Marrone, after defensive coordinator Mike Pettine accepted an offer to become the Cleveland Browns' next head coach:

"I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Mike on becoming the Browns new head coach and thank him for all of his time and efforts with our team this past season. He did an excellent job of improving our defense and we wish him the best.

We have a plan in place and we will introduce our new defensive coordinator after our final decision has been made."